Khao Yai National Park
Rob's take
"Thailand's first national park, and the best chance you'll get of seeing wild elephants from a road — three hours from Pattaya, so either start before dawn or stay over in Pak Chong. Go early: the animals move at first light and the viewpoints are clear before the haze builds. Haew Suwat is the waterfall to aim for. Never feed anything, whatever it does to your bonnet."
Khao Yai National Park is a road-trip destination in Khao Yai, within the greater Pattaya area of Chon Buri, Thailand, and one of Rob's picks on this guide. It's rated 4.5★ on Google. Open daily, 6:00 AM–6:00 PM.
Khao Yai National Park covers a vast stretch of forested mountains within driving distance of Bangkok, reached from either the Pak Chong (Nakhon Ratchasima) or Prachinburi side. Well-maintained trails, grassy hills, viewpoints and waterfalls such as Haew Suwat make even the drive through worthwhile, and elephants, gibbons, deer and monkeys are regularly spotted from the road. Gates are open 6am to 6pm daily, with designated campsites for anyone staying overnight.
Curated in Pattaya · Last updated September 2026
What people say
- Widely called a must-visit for nature lovers; easy to fill a full day
- Clean and well-maintained, with plenty of short hiking trails and viewpoints
- Wildlife sightings are common but not guaranteed — elephants, gibbons, deer, monkeys
- Scenic driving and motorcycling; early mornings rated best for the views
- Visitors advise keeping noise down and never feeding the animals
Common questions
Is Khao Yai National Park worth visiting?
Khao Yai National Park holds a 4.5★ average across 17,219 Google reviews, so it's well regarded by the people who go. It's also one of our hand-picked spots on Things To Do In Pattaya.
What are Khao Yai National Park's opening hours?
Open daily, 6:00 AM–6:00 PM. Hours can shift on Thai public holidays, so it's worth checking ahead for a special trip.
Where is Khao Yai National Park, and how do I get there?
Khao Yai National Park is in Khao Yai, within the greater Pattaya area of Chon Buri, Thailand. Use the map on this page and tap "Get directions" to open turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps.
What do visitors say about Khao Yai National Park?
Recurring themes from reviews include: widely called a must-visit for nature lovers; easy to fill a full day; clean and well-maintained, with plenty of short hiking trails and viewpoints; wildlife sightings are common but not guaranteed — elephants, gibbons, deer, monkeys; scenic driving and motorcycling; early mornings rated best for the views.
See it in motion
Where it is
Open in Google Maps ↗Worth knowing
- Opening hours: Daily 6am – 6pm
- Where to pay entry: Entrance fees are charged for both people and vehicles, and can only be paid at the Chao Por Khao Yai Shrine Visitor Center (Pak Chong entrance) or the Noen Hom Visitor Center (Prachinburi entrance)
- Current closure: Pha Diao Dai viewpoint and nature trail closed 1 June – 30 September 2026 (B.E. 2569)
- No transport inside the park: There is no transport service within the park, so you need your own vehicle to reach the attractions
- Two gates: You can enter by one gate and leave by the other, or turn back
- Prohibited items: Pets, foam containers, alcoholic drinks and sharp objects may not be brought into the park
- Drones: Not allowed without explicit permission
- Accommodation booking: Book online, in person at the Visitor Center, or take a campsite space subject to availability
- Wheelchair access: Accessible toilets at the Visitor Center, Chao Por Khao Yai Shrine, Noen Hom Entrance and Haew Suwat Waterfall; wheelchair access to the Km 30 Viewpoint and the Visitor Center exhibition
From Khao Yai National Park's own website, read September 2026. Prices and hours change — check the source before you rely on one.
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